—Jean Harlow
Designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld
Production: 1935 to c.1955
Manufacturer: Metz & Co., Amsterdam
Size: 75 x 37 x 44.5; seat height 42.5 cms
Material: red-stained elm, brass screws
Judith with the Head of Holofernes
c. 1525
Oil on panel, 65 x 47 cm
—Ava Gardner on her role as Honey Bear Kelly in Mogambo, 1953.
Selma, Portrait of the Artist’s Mother
1957
oil on canvas
30″ x 24″
Self Portrait, New York Studio, New York, USA
1932
“Plot is people. Human emotions and desires founded on the realities of life, working at cross purposes, getting hotter and fiercer as they strike against each other until finally there’s an explosion—that’s plot.”
—Leigh Brackett
Based on The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
Night Lights and Shadows
1959
Oil On Canvas
20 x 24 in.
“The Big Sleep” screenplay was an interesting exercise in artistry as much of it either made no sense (Who killed the chauffeur?) or blurred the plot enough to get by the censors. The Phillip Marlowe novel is about pornography, which was a bit of a challenge in 1945. Still, the movie is great and I watch it over and over.
His books are also a history of old Los Angeles before the war. What we call Malibu was “Bay City” and the casino that Eddie Mars ran was on Lankersheim Blvd.
Nobody could figure out the plot to the Big Sleep. Not Hawks, not the screenwriters. They all admitted as much years later in various interviews.
Re: Sculpted in Steel
I……..want………them.
Regarding Leigh Brackett, how could she have been a successful screen writer in 1940’s and 50’s? My college professors told me that all women were oppressed housewives back then…
“Mogambo” was ok, but I much prefer “Red Dust.” Harlow & Gable were perfect in every way.
What an impressive photo you found, Robert, of Fred Astaire.
Oh! and thank you, Robert, for the recommendation of Pico Kosher Deli. I was visiting LA earlier this week and made a point of having lunch there. Excellent!
Red Dust is far superior to Mogambo.
If you haven’t seen them I am sure you would like the cars produced by Emile Delahaye in the 1930s. To me with any industrial design the epitome of style is when it – whatever “it” is – looks period and yet still looks good decades later.
The more I have learned about Ava Gardner the more I would have liked to have known her.
What a character.
Didn’t realize Leigh Brackett had such a wonderful career.
Speaking of cars with style, take a look at Morgan cars some time. It’s a small independent British company, founded in 1909 if I remember right. Their first models were 3-wheel vehicles. Their first 4-wheel car came out in 1936, and they are still producing that model, with slightly changed guts but in appearance nearly identical to the original. Very impressive.
The Morgan is my favorite car. I’ve wanted to buy one since I first laid eyes on one here in LA 30 year ago. Sadly, I am way too practical to buy such a rarified machine.
Kudos… as always. I love Ariel’s photo. I am enthralled by the Jean Harlow and Elizabeth Taylor photos. Both have amazing eyes and lips, but what a difference in eyebrows!
Gotta love the Art Deco car/motorcycle designs. Everything looks fast, even when it’s sitting still!
Have a blessed Sabbath, Robert…
Early Hollywood starlets had their eyebrows shaved off by studio make-up artists so they could paint and place new and better eyebrows. Tragic.